Goons mistook beating target for son of Melrose Park mayor, feds say

WRITTEN BY JON SEIDEL

George Brown allegedly boasted
his goon had no problem “breakin’ somebody’s legs.”

But when he and Paul Carparelli
began to plot a “f—— thorough beating” for used-car dealer R. J. Serpico in
Melrose Park, the feds say, Brown had a concern: He thought Serpico was the son
of Melrose Park Mayor Ronald Serpico.

Brown was wrong. But he warned
Carparelli the mayor might “run” to alleged mob bosses Pete and John DiFronzo,
according to records filed in federal court Thursday. Or, as Brown called them,
“Uncle Pete and Uncle John.”

“This has just got a special set
of circumstances,” Brown allegedly said.

Federal prosecutors revealed that
detail in paperwork they filed seeking a prison sentence of as high as six
years for Michael “Mickey” Davis. A jury convicted Davis, 58, in June of
extortion and attempted extortion. The feds accused him of ordering R.J.
Serpico’s “break-both-legs beating” to collect on a $300,000 debt.

Davis is set to be sentenced
Tuesday. His attorneys have asked for a sentence of as little as 13 months for
a man they claim has a “genuine concern for the well-being of others,
willingness to help those in need, and generous spirit.”

R.J. Serpico is the nephew of the
Melrose Park mayor. The DiFronzos have business ties in Melrose Park, and a
spokesman for the mayor acknowledged the mayor is aware of the brothers. But
the spokesman denied there is any connection between the case, the mayor’s
relative, the DiFronzos or their business endeavors.

The looming, broad-shouldered
Davis approached R.J. Serpico in the office of his Melrose Park used car
dealership in January 2013, months after loaning R.J. Serpico and his father
$300,000 according to trial testimony.

Davis dropped a sheet of gambling
debts owed by R.J. Serpico’s father down on the desk and said, “this wasn’t the
f—— agreement,” Serpico testified. R.J. Serpico said Davis leaned back and
asked, “how my wife and my kids were, and if I still lived in Park Ridge.”
Serpico said he took it as a threat.

R.J. Serpico vomited often
because of his fear of Davis, according to prosecutors. They said that fear was
fueled not only by that conversation, but by Davis’ alleged association with
Pete DiFronzo.

The feds say Davis arranged for
Serpico’s beating by contacting Gigi Rovito, who recruited Carparelli, who sought
out Brown. Carparelli allegedly told Brown the person seeking the beating was
“Mickey,” adding that person was “Solly D’s” — an apparent reference to Chicago
Outfit member Salvatore DeLaurentis.

Brown wound up cooperating with
the feds. Carparelli pleaded guilty in May to three counts of conspiracy to
commit extortion in a separate case, and he is set to be sentenced Dec. 21.